Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich speaks with supporters after making his victory speech during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Attorney General Mark Brnovich pumps his fist after speaking to supporters during the Arizona Republican election night party in Scottsdale on Nov. 6, 2018.
Michael Chow/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Attorney General Mark Brnovich throws out beer koozies to supporters during the Arizona Republican watch party in Scottsdale on Nov. 6, 2018.
Michael Chow/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Attorney General Mark Brnovich speaks to supporters during the Arizona Republican election night party in Scottsdale on Nov. 6, 2018.
Michael Chow/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

David Garcia, Democratic candidate for Arizona governor, hugs his children as he exits the stage at the election night watch party on Nov. 6, 2018, at the Renaissance Hotel in Phoenix.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

David Garcia, Democratic candidate for Arizona governor, addresses the crowd at the election night watch party on Nov. 6, 2018, at the Renaissance Hotel in Phoenix.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

David Garcia, Democratic candidate for Arizona governor, addresses the crowd at the election night watch party on Nov. 6, 2018, at the Renaissance Hotel in Phoenix.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Greg Stanton, Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative of Arizona's 9th Congressional District gives, his victory speech along with his family at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel on Nov. 6, 2018.
Nick Oza/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Greg Stanton, Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative of Arizona's 9th Congressional District gives, his victory speech along with his family at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel on Nov. 6, 2018.
Nick Oza/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Greg Stanton, Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative of Arizona's 9th Congressional District gives, his victory speech along with his family at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel on Nov. 6, 2018.
Nick Oza, Nick Oza/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Greg Stanton, Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative of Arizona's 9th Congressional District gives, his victory speech along with his family at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel on Nov. 6, 2018.
Nick Oza, Nick Oza/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Greg Stanton, Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative of Arizona's 9th Congressional District gives, his victory speech along with his family at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel on Nov. 6, 2018.
Nick Oza, Nick Oza/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Governor Doug Ducey speaks alongside his wife, Angela, during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Gov. Doug Ducey supporters take a selfie before Ducey speaks at the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Governor Doug Ducey speaks alongside his wife, Angela, during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Governor Doug Ducey speaks alongside his wife, Angela, during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Gov. Doug Ducey speaks hugs his wife, Angela, during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Gov. Doug Ducey speaks as Cindy McCain, the wife of the late Senator John McCain looks on during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Greg Stanton, Democratic candidate for 9th District District, addresses the crowd at the election night watch party on Nov. 6, 2018 at the Renaissance Hotel in Phoenix.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Greg Stanton, Democratic candidate for 9th District District, addresses the crowd at the election night watch party on Nov. 6, 2018 at the Renaissance Hotel in Phoenix.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Phoenix mayoral candidate Kate Gallego is all smiles as she talks on the phone at the Hilton Garden Inn in Phoenix on Nov. 6, 2018.
Darryl Webb/Special for The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Phoenix mayoral candidate Kate Gallego gets a hug from a friend at the Hilton Garden Inn in Phoenix on Nov. 6, 2018.
Darryl Webb/Special for The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Phoenix mayoral candidate Kate Gallego gets a hug from a friend at the Hilton Garden Inn in Phoenix on Nov. 6, 2018.
Darryl Webb/Special for The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Phoenix mayoral candidate Kate Gallego gets a hug from a friend at the Hilton Garden Inn in Phoenix on Nov. 6, 2018.
Darryl Webb/Special for The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Phoenix mayoral candidate Kate Gallego gets a round of applause from constituents at the Hilton Garden Inn in Phoenix on Nov. 6, 2018.
Darryl Webb/Special for The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Phoenix mayoral candidate Kate Gallego gets a round of applause from constituents at the Hilton Garden Inn in Phoenix on Nov. 6, 2018.
Darryl Webb/Special for The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Gov. Doug Ducey speaks to supporters Nov. 6, 2018, during the Arizona Republican Party Election Night party in Scottsdale. Ducey won his re-election against Democratic challenger David Garcia.
Michael Chow/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Gov. Doug Ducey speaks as Cindy McCain, the wife of the late Senator John McCain looks on during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Gov. Doug Ducey speaks as Cindy McCain, the wife of the late Senator John McCain looks on during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Gov. Doug Ducey speaks to supporters Nov. 6, 2018, during the Arizona Republican Party Election Night party in Scottsdale, Ariz. Ducey won his re-election against Democratic challenger David Garcia.
Michael Chow/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Republicans watch the results roll in on Fox News early in the night at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Nov. 6, 2018.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Republicans watch the results roll in on Fox News early in the night at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Nov. 6, 2018.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb (left) talks to fellow Republicans at the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Conservative television host Josh Bernstein and Laurie Gonzalez watch early election results at the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Republican James Murr of Scottsdale watches early results during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Republicans Michael Jabri of Phoenix (left) of Phoenix and Ashur Warda of Peoria watch early results during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Republican Ashur Warda (center) of Peoria watches early results during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Republican Stephen Fischer of Surprise watches early results during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Republicans Michael Jabri of Phoenix (left) of Phoenix and Ashur Warda of Peoria watch early results during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Republican Ashur Warda (center) of Peoria watches early results during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Republican Stephen Fischer of Surprise watches early results during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Rep. Andy Biggs speaks during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Rep. Andy Biggs speaks during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Republicans Michael Jabri of Phoenix (left) of Phoenix and Ashur Warda of Peoria watch early results during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

U.S. Representative David Schweikert speaks during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

U.S. Representative David Schweikert speaks as his wife, Joyce, kisses their daughter, Olivia, during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Rudy Rangel (left) and Bryan Mulloy help themselves to pizza while waiting in line to vote at the Tempe History Museum in Ariz. Nov. 6, 2018. An anonymous person bought pizza for people in line.
Michael Chow/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Voters wait in line to to cast their ballots at a polling station at the Tempe History Museum in Ariz. Nov. 6, 2018.
Michael Chow/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Arizona State University students wait in line for up to 2 1/2 hours to vote at the polling place on the ASU Tempe campus on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Arizona State University students wait in line to vote at the polling place at ASU's Tempe campus on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Arizona State University student Alex Riordan (left) and other ASU students wait in line to vote at the polling place at ASU's Tempe campus on Nov. 6, 2018. Riordan is a first time voter.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Greg Stanton, a Democrat running for U.S. Congress in Arizona's 9th Congressional District, shakes hands with Arizona State University students as they wait in line to vote at the polling place at ASU's Tempe campus on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Arizona State University students wait in line to vote at the polling place at ASU's Tempe campus on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Arizona State University student Urban Stewart (center right) high fives other ASU students as they wait in line to vote at the polling place at ASU's Tempe campus on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Arizona State University students wait in line to vote at the polling place at ASU's Tempe campus on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Arizona State University students wait in line to vote at the polling place at ASU's Tempe campus on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Arizona State University students wait in line to vote at the polling place at ASU's Tempe campus on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Arizona State University students wait in line to vote at the polling place at ASU's Tempe campus on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Arizona State University students wait in line to vote at the polling place at ASU's Tempe campus on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Arizona State University students wait in line to vote at the polling place at ASU's Tempe campus on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Voters wait in line to vote at the Tempe History Museum in Arizona on Nov. 6, 2018.
Michael Chow/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Eve Beresford, 18, gets help filling out her early ballot from her mom, Celia, outside a polling station at the Tempe History Museum in Arizona on Nov. 6, 2018.
Michael Chow/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Students at Arizona State University's Tempe campus were sent free pizza from Twitter users and the Arizona Democratic Party while waiting in line to vote on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2018.
Lily Altavena/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Students at Arizona State University's Tempe campus were sent free pizza from Twitter users and the Arizona Democratic Party while waiting in line to vote on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2018.
Lily Altavena/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

The line at the polling location around 1 p.m. on the Arizona State University campus on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2018.
Lily Altavena/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

The line on the ASU main campus in Tempe at Palo Verde West dorm polling location was an hour long as of 12 p.m., according to a poll worker, Nov. 6, 2018.
Jen Fifield/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Bill Pierce, candidate for state mine inspector, was talking to voters outside a polling place at the ASU main campus in Tempe, Nov. 6, 2018.
Jen Fifield/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Voters wait in line near the Gila polling site in Chandler. The poll workers were locked out of the site after the tenant did not pay their rent. Workers moved the polling site to the south side of the building in an empty suite, Nov. 6, 2018.
Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Voters wait in line near the Gila polling site in Chandler. The poll workers were locked out of the site after the tenant did not pay their rent. Workers moved the polling site to the south side of the building in an empty suite, Nov. 6, 2018.
Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., the Democratic candidate for Arizona's U.S. Senate seat greets Leanna Huerta and her children Xavier and Alexandreia outside a polling center on Nov. 6, 2018 at the Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Voters wait in line near the Gila polling site in Chandler. The poll workers were locked out of the site after the tenant did not pay their rent. Workers moved the polling site to the south side of the building in an empty suite, Nov. 6, 2018.
Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Voters wait in line near the Gila polling site in Chandler. The poll workers were locked out of the site after the tenant did not pay their rent. Poll workers set up a temporary location in front of a nearby store, Nov. 6, 2018.
Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Offline printers created long lines for voters at Chandler City Hall on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2018.
Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Due to the failure to pay rent the landlord changed the locks on the door preventing access to the Gila polling place in Chandler, Nov. 6, 2018.
Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Inspector Eileen Wendt looks at a sign from the landlord that says the tenant did not pay rent and the locks have been changed preventing access to the Gila polling place in Chandler, Nov. 6, 2018.
Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Due to the failure to pay rent the landlord changed the locks on the door preventing access to the Gila polling place in Chandler.
Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed

Voters arrive at a polling place on Arizona Avenue in Chandler to find the doors padlocked, Nov. 6, 2018.
Maddie Johnson/The Republic

Interested in this topic? You may also want to view these photo galleries:

Arizona State University student Alex Riordan (left) and other ASU students wait in line to vote at the polling place at ASU's Tempe campus on Nov. 6, 2018. Riordan is a first time voter.(Photo: David Wallace/The Republic)

11:15 p.m.: U.S. Senate race too close to call

Arizona's costly and contentious Senate race remained a nail-biter late Tuesday night as the contest between Republican Rep. Martha McSally and Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema for U.S. Senate was too close to call.

Hundreds of thousands of ballots were still uncounted as the two congresswomen were separated by only a few thousand votes. Election officials in Maricopa County, the state's largest, have warned that many votes may not start to be counted until Thursday, according to the Associated Press.

With the race so close, neither McSally nor Sinema made any public remarks on Tuesday night.

Also tight is the race for Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction. Republican Frank Riggs and Democrat Kathy Hoffman are vying to lead the Arizona Department of Education and oversee the disbursement of $6 billion to school districts.

Riggs was narrowly leading.

10:56 p.m.: Debbie Lesko wins

The Associated Press has declared Republican Rep. Debbie Lesko as the winner for Congressional District 8 over Democratic Hiral Tipirneni.

10:06 p.m.: Long-time mine inspector re-elected

10 p.m.: Proposition 125, changes to pension funds, approved

The Associated Press is projecting that Proposition 125 will be approved by voters. The measure would amend the Arizona Constitution to make changes to the benefit increases paid to retirees in two state-run pension funds that are in serious financial trouble.

It could save taxpayers up to $275 million, but some union members oppose it, calling it an unfair reduction in benefits.

10 p.m.: Kimberly Yee projected to win treasurer seat

Republican Kimberly Yee, the majority leader in the state Senate, is projected to win the state treasurer seat over Democrat Mark Manoil, a Phoenix property-tax lawyer.

Arizona's treasurer manages the state's approximately $15 billion investment portfolio, banking services and the state Permanent Land Trust.

Both are vying to replace Eileen Klein, the former president of the Arizona Board of Regents. Klein was appointed to the position by Gov. Doug Ducey after former Treasurer Jeff DeWit left for a job at NASA. She is not seeking the post.

9:58 p.m.: Mark Brnovich projected to be re-elected as attorney general

Brnovich has touted his office's prosecution of "would-be terrorists" and perpetrators of sex crimes against adults and children as major victories. The office's civil division also has "returned a record amount of restitution to individual consumers here in Arizona," he said.

But he has taken heat for involving Arizona in divisive national fights, such as the 20-state effort to repeal part of the Affordable Care Act.

Contreras contends Brnovich is too "focused on partisan agendas" and special interests.

Contreras, a former prosecutor and policy adviser, has cited child welfare, consumer protection, health care, the opioid epidemic, environmental issues and "constitutional rights" as top areas where she would advocate for Arizonans.

The race has drawn national attention because state attorneys general have recently played a central role in challenging the legality of decisions made by the Trump Administration.

9:44 p.m.: Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick wins election to U.S. House

9:16 p.m.: Prop 306 Clean Elections rules approved

Proposition 306 has been declared approved by the Associated Press. The measure asks voters to require that the Arizona Clean Elections Commission's rules be OK'd by the Governor's Regulatory Review Council, a board of political appointees chosen by Gov. Doug Ducey.

9:10 p.m.: Ducey re-elected governor

Ducey won a second term and defeated Garcia, the longtime educator who had hoped to use widespread anger over public-school funding to unseat the incumbent.

After this spring's #RedForEd teacher walkout raised doubts about Ducey's commitment to public education, some national analysts predicted Garcia would have a better-than-usual chance in Tuesday's election.

But as Election Day neared, it became clear the Garcia campaign could not compete with Ducey's prolific fundraising and well-oiled public relations machine.

The governor's re-election campaign raised more than three times as much as Garcia's, with Ducey supporters funneling millions more into attack ads against the Democrat.

In his Election Day remarks Tuesday evening, Ducey said, "If you voted for me, thank you. If you didn't, I want you to know: I work for you. My goal these past four years has been to be a governor for all the people, no matter your party affiliation...and that won't change."

— Maria Polletta

9:06 p.m.: Prop 305, expansion of vouchers, rejected

The Associated Press has declared Proposition 305 as rejected. The rejection means the Empowerment Scholarship Account program cannot be expanded.

8:47 p.m.: Former Phoenix mayor wins election to Congress

The Associated Press has declared Democrat Greg Stanton as winning election to the U.S. House in Arizona's 9th congressional district. Early results show Stanton defeating Republican Steve Ferrara, a radiologist and former chief medical officer for the U.S. Navy.

Democrats hold a 4-percentage-point registration advantage in the district.

CLOSE

Former Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton gives his victory speech at the Renaissance Phoenix Hotel after winning a seat in the House of Representatives.
Tom Tingle, The Republic | azcentral.com

8:47 p.m.: Proposition 126 passes, bans service taxes

The Associated Press has declared Proposition 126 as being approved. A yes vote prohibits the state from enacting any new taxes on services. It is primarily supported by real-estate professionals. A bipartisan group opposes the measure because it would limit the state's flexibility in dealing with the budget.

8:46 p.m.: Prop 127 clean-energy measure rejected

The Associated Press has called the Proposition 127 as rejected. A yes vote would have required electric companies to get half their power from renewable sources like solar and wind by 2030. A large coalition lead by Arizona Public Service Co. opposed the measure while renewable-energy proponents and health advocates supported it. Spending on both sides of the issue set a new state record.

8:31 p.m.: Paul Gosar wins re-election

8:30 p.m.: Volunteers unwind at election watch parties

At 8:30 p.m. hundreds of people, mostly families and volunteers of Latino and Democratic organizations, had gathered in a large dining hall at the Tradiciones restaurant in downtown Phoenix for an election night watch party to celebrate and unwind after months of get-out-the-vote efforts aimed primarily at minority communities and young people.

Sitting at round tables below decorative tapestry, they ate chicken fajitas while a band performed optimistic Banda music. Some danced in front of the stage between two large projection screens, showing election coverage from CNN and NBC News.

Ricardo Zamudio, co-field director of LUCHA, one of the groups at the event, said even though many people in attendance began their days in the early morning hours by knocking on doors encouraging people to vote, he expected the party to last until 1 a.m.

“We’re celebrating the work that has been done, not just in 2018, but how we got to 2018,” Zamudio said.

By the time Republicans had officially retained control over the U.S. Senate, Julia Josefchuck, a friend of one of the volunteers at the event, said she was still hopeful Democrats would take the U.S. House. She said in either case, she’s grateful for the record-breaking voter turnout.

“That’s the great part of it, “Josefchuck said. “Engagement across the board.”

7:50 p.m.: Blind voters say they experience voting problems at polls

They complained that voting machines they use to cast ballots were broken at multiple polling locations.

Sebastian Ibanez of Mesa said he attempted to cast his ballot at three different polling stations. On a Facebook Live post from Arizona State University he said was running out of time and likely would not get to vote.

“I came here to ASU, where the blind community is huge and I thought I would get better results,” he said. “After waiting about 30 minutes here, I was told I better go somewhere else because they could not get the machines to work.”

Ibanez said not only were accessible machines not working, but individuals at polling stations also did not know how to operate them.

“It is annoying to know that you are not able to exercise your rights,” he said.

Adelia and Marco Zepeda experienced similar problems in Phoenix when the accessible machine at 67th Avenue and Osborn Road stopped working.

“We are going to have to wait,” Adelina said just before the polling station closed at 7 pm. “They should have all of these machines fixed.”

She said the machine stopped working the moment her husband inserted his ballot. She said they experienced a similar problem in the 2016 presidential election. A representative from Maricopa County Elections Department was not immediately available for comment.

— Robert Anglen

7:30 p.m.: Why a polling station at a Chandler golf school was closed

On the night before Election Day, workers set up a polling station at the Golf Academy of America school in Chandler.

What they didn't know was that hours before, a federal judge in Alabama had ruled against the financially troubled parent company of the golf school.

In court papers, the Education Corporation of America said it faced two foreclosures if it was not allowed to restructure under court supervision and continue receiving moneys from students taking part in federal financial-aid programs.

The Golf Academy of America started in 1974 in San Diego. The Phoenix school opened in 1986, relocating to Chandler in 2011, according to the school's website. The academy also has locations in Dallas; Orlando, Florida; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

But the school's parent company fell on hard times.

According to court papers filed in October, the Education Corporation of America said it was facing numerous lawsuits and at least two pending eviction actions.

— Richard Ruelas and Rachel Leingang

7 p.m.: Polls close in Arizona

Polls are officially closed in Arizona. Any voter in line before 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Those who show up after 7 p.m. will be turned away.

6 p.m.: What time are election results announced in Arizona?

The first batch of election results are expected shortly after 8 p.m. tonight. The first results will be early ballots mailed by county recorders before today.

There is expected to be a delay between the first batch of results and the next update as counties across the state start processing polling location votes.

Voters can line up at their polling location until 7 p.m. Any voter in line before 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote, according to the Arizona Secretary of State's Office. Voters who shows up after 7 p.m. will be turned away.

Voters were still filing into the Mesa City Plaza polling station 15 minutes before closing, and ASU's Tempe campus was still reporting long lines as polls closed.

ASU students say they waited in line for up to 2 1/2 hours to vote at the polling place at the ASU campus in Tempe on Nov. 6, 2018.
David Wallace, azcentral.com

5:45 p.m.: Pizza delivered to those waiting in Tempe poll lines

Just after 5 p.m., pizza arrived at the Tempe History Museum where about 100 people were lined up to vote. The driver for Big Jimmy's Pizza in Tempe unloaded 10 large pizzas on a low wall, recruiting Katie Duford, 18, and Zach Rolfe, 22, to pass it out.

"This is so nice," Rolfe said. He and Duford had just finished voting. "Who wants a slice of cheese?" Rolfe called out.

There were slices of pepperoni, buffalo chicken, ham and pineapple, and a combination. The driver, who did not want to give his name, said the order cost $158.21 and was sent anonymously with no indication of why.

Grateful and hungry voters reached for slices. Gabrielle Veasy had rushed to the poll after work and picking up her 9-year-old daughter, Jordan. They each took a slice of cheese.

"I was just regretting not stopping for something to eat," Veasy said.

But no way she would have skipped voting.

"People die for the right to do this," Veasy said. "There is no reason for me to miss this."

Fletcher Hickey of Tempe showed up with three cases of water for voters at Tempe History Museum. He voted by mail but saw the lines on the news and thought he’d help.

“Whatever helps keep them in line,” Hickey said.

— Karina Bland

Rudy Rangel (left) and Bryan Mulloy help themselves to pizza while waiting in line to vote at the Tempe History Museum in Ariz. Nov. 6, 2018. An anonymous person bought pizza for people in line.(Photo: Michael Chow/The Republic)

On Tuesday, there were reports of technology issues and one polling site never opened.

The entire Maricopa County computer system, which is needed for voters to check in at the polls, went offline around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Around noon, Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes confirmed that the system had a 20-25 minute "slowdown" during the 11 a.m. hour, and the system was entirely down for five minutes.

Poll workers arrived at the Golf Academy of America, a designated polling place in northern Chandler, around 5 a.m. Everything was ready for voting. Election machines were hooked up and ballots sat waiting.

But poll workers couldn't get inside. The doors were locked.

Overnight, the building had been foreclosed.

Around 5:30 a.m., Fontes tweeted an advisory. "We are advising voters assigned to the Polling Place at 2031 N. Arizona Ave. in Gila Precinct to use the Chandler City Hall Vote Center."

But things were no better there.

"Apparently there's an issue with the ballots," Brian Murray, 43, said as he stood in a growing crowd at City Hall. He arrived around 6:15 a.m. and took his place in line. But it didn't move. Instead he watched as a poll worker came out every few minutes and announced that the printers weren't working

— Alden Woods and Jessica Boehm

CLOSE

Maricopa County's top election official says Election Day turnout in metro Phoenix is almost on par with a presidential election. Adrian Fontes says more than 86,000 ballots were cast at polling places after just a few hours Tuesday morning. (Nov 6)
AP

5 p.m.: Midterm election turnout to be among highest in recent state history

Arizona voters have rarely been this energized for a midterm election.

The Arizona Republic projects about 2.18 million voters, or 58.6 percent of those registered, will cast a ballot before the polls close at 7 p.m.

That would be the most votes cast in a midterm election in state history.

The highest voter turnout for a midterm since 1998 was in 2006, when 60.5 percent of voters cast ballots.

Here are the midterm turnout percentages since 1998:

1998: 45.8 percent

2002: 56.3 percent

2006: 60.5 percent

2010: 55.7 percent

2014: 47.5 percent

“We are setting voting records," Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes said Tuesday evening. He said there were 242,175 in-person votes today as of 5:30 Tuesday.

— Agnel Philip, Rob O'Dell and Jessica Boehm

Arizona State University students wait in line to vote at the polling place at ASU's Tempe campus on Nov. 6, 2018.(Photo: David Wallace/The Republic)

4:30 p.m.: ASU voters report two-hour waits to vote

Some voters at Arizona State University in Tempe were reporting two-hour waits to vote on Tuesday afternoon.

ASU students Lizzy Noble, Carly Grafenstein and Moon Hadqu dashed to polling place at the Tempe History Museum because the line to vote on campus was too long.

After voting, the business majors had 30 minutes to get back in time for their next class. But it was that important for them to vote.

"It's how our voices will be heard," Noble said.

For Hadqu, voting in the midterm was meant to send a message to President Donald Trump, whose rhetoric and policies she disagrees with. Grafenstein and Noble said this election is important because these races and propositions impact local communities.

There was a big push on social media for people their age to vote.

"You can't complain about the outcome of you didn't vote," Grafenstein said.

Aidan Callahan, another first-time voter and ASU freshman, said it took him two hours to vote. Once he got inside, he said the space itself was "really cramped."

"A different location would have been better," he said. "It got the job done, I guess."

— Karina Bland and Lily Altavena

Arizona State University students wait in line to vote at the polling place at ASU's Tempe campus on Nov. 6, 2018.(Photo: David Wallace/The Republic)

3:20 p.m.: Man with BB gun arrested at Goodyear church polling site

Goodyear police said Luebke was caught filming inside the church around 12:35 p.m., violating Arizona law which prohibits filming within 75 feet of a polling location.

Police said polling officials and officers tried to inform Luebke about the laws and told him to leave when he refused to cooperate.

Officers placed Luebke under arrest when he refused to leave the polling location.

He has been taken into custody and will be charged with three counts of disorderly conduct, one count of misconduct involving weapons and one count of recording within 75 feet of a polling place.

— Perry Vandell

3:15 p.m.: More details on polling problems

An email from Chief Deputy Recorder Keely Varvel to county employees further clarified the technical issues that plagued polling places Tuesday morning.

Varvel said the “Ballot-on-Demand printers” at vote centers, which print custom ballots according to a voter’s precinct, were “not functioning properly for a few hours.” IT Troubleshooters initiated “patch repairs,” which resolved the issues.

Long lines accrued at the vote centers while the printers malfunctioned. But Keely said they had subsided in all but four locations. She did not specify which locations were still experiencing lines.

Varvel also said the countywide computer system outage, which impacted all voter check-in machines, lasted about 20 minutes and was caused by “an internal database transaction.” She said all systems are now working.

Varvel also provided an update on voter turnout. As of 1 p.m., 133,174 ballots had been cast at precinct polling places, 4,701 ballots were cast at vote centers and 6,627 ballots have been cast provisionally.

1:30 p.m.: Young voters turn out, tune in, take it in stride

But while lines were long, spirits were light as students chatted with friends and scrolled on their phones while they waited.

NextGen America, the organization formed by billionaire Tom Steyer to get young people to the polls, said that in three of their targeted precincts, turnout had surpassed 2014 midterm turnout levels.

At a precinct near Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, young people had cast twice as many votes by noon as they did in all of 2014. At a University of Arizona precinct in Tucson, they were already halfway to 2016 presidential year turnout levels. And at ASU, turnout was almost 150 percent over 2014.

At ASU, volunteers at the polls passed out pizza and cups of water to those in line.

Alexandra Edelman, 20, a journalism student at ASU, joined the back of the line around 12:15. She said she was encouraged to see the line, and didn’t mind waiting.

With the nation so divided politically right now, voting unites everyone, she said.

“It’s good we come together and come to the polls,” she said.

A slew of young voters, including many first-timers, waited for hours in line at ASU’s on-campus polling location, the ground floor of the Palo Verde West dormitory. The line likely stretched at least two hours, a poll worker said, all the way to a Starbucks across a courtyard.

Several students said it took them about two hours to vote.

Hugo Gastelum, 18-years-old and voting for the first time, said he was missing a calculus class to wait to fill out his ballot.

“It’s not like I can just vote anytime,” he said.

Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes tweeted that his agency would send more equipment to the ASU polling place.

— Jen Fifield and Lily Altavena

CLOSE

The line outside of Palo Verde West on ASU’s Tempe campus where students are waiting to vote, Nov. 6, 2018.
Lorraine Longhi, The Republic | azcentral.com

12:10 p.m.: 'Blip' slows system across county, Fontes says

Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes said a glitch in the countywide voting system slowed voters for 20-25 minutes while elections workers had to reboot the entire system.

Fontes said the system was offline for only about five minutes but quickly restored.

An email from Chief Deputy Recorder Keely Varvel to county employees said the countywide computer system outage, which impacted all voter check-in machines, was caused by “an internal database transaction.”

Fontes said he the “slow down” didn’t result in a major backup of lines.

Some voters disputed that characterization, however, saying things were much severe.

"They've been down for hours. Nobody can cast votes," said Dave Ellis of Mesa, who said he waited in line for an hour at his polling place on Main Street but then had to leave.

Don Sena, a poll worker at Tillman Middle School in Phoenix, said the hold up lasted about 30 minutes at his location, which irked a few voters.

“The wireless connection to election headquarters was interrupted,” he said. “We were not able to process identification information.

Sena said about a dozen people were in line at the time of the disruption. Most waited it out, but some left.

— Jessica Boehm and Austin Westfall

11:55 a.m.: One man, one vote, and a six-hour drive

Voting today was so important to Tim McLaughlin San Felice that he drove all the way from San Diego just to do it. He lives part-time in California, Nov. 6, 2018.(Photo: Arizona Republic)

Voting today was so important to Tim McLaughlin San Felice that he drove all the way from San Diego yesterday just to do it.

The 53-year-old writer, who works in marketing, said he had filed a change of address form but never received his mail-in ballot.

McLaughlin San Felice lives part-time in San Diego but is registered at his primary home in Phoenix.

As Election Day approached, he saw more and more friends on social media posting about the importance of voting, and he realized what he needed to do to fulfill his civic obligation.

“I said my gosh, I’ve got to vote, so I came back,” he said this morning, shortly after casting his ballot.

“There’s all the things you can say, it’s your right, it’s your duty, but I’m proud that it’s something I’m able to do.”

McLaughlin San Felice said he was excited to cast his ballot, and “I wish more people would feel that.”

“There’s sort of an electricity in the air. No matter where you fall politically, it’s an exciting day,” he said.

He added that ideally Election Day would be a holiday, and after it’s over, everyone on all sides should meet at a bar to celebrate.

— John D'Anna

10:45 a.m.: Alcohol sales on Election Day? We'll drink to that

Is it legal to buy alcohol on Election Day? That's what inquiring Arizona voters want to know, apparently. The question is one of the rising Google queries in Arizona this morning, and luckily for you, your local newspaper is here to help.

The answer is yes, you can buy liquor today, according to the Arizona Secretary of State's office.

For those of you scratching your heads about why this is even a question, some of us are old enough remember the days when you couldn't get a drink while the polls were open.

It was a law that stemmed from Territorial Days, when it was apparently not uncommon to bribe voters with a swig or two of joy juice on Election Day.

That meant that back in the day, you had to plan in advance and stock up the night before if you wanted to avoid a riot at the newsroom's post-election night party. Or so we've heard.

Fortunately, we haven't had to worry about that for the last dozen elections or so. The Legislature, in a rare moment of common sense, voted in 1993 to allow liquor sales on Election Day.

So while this election has been enough to drive everyone to drink, we recommend that you hold off until after you cast your ballot.

— John D'Anna

9:55 a.m.: Ducey casts ballot in PV; one voter was unimpressed

Gov. Doug Ducey heads to his polling place in Paradise Valley to drop off his ballot around 8:40 a.m., Nov. 6, 2018.(Photo: Maria Polletta/The Republic)

Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, who is seeking re-election, stopped at his Paradise Valley polling place to drop off his ballot around 8:40 a.m. Tuesday.

Several volunteers and voters gathered outside Ascension Lutheran Church to shake Ducey’s hand, though another woman arriving to vote sheepishly said she wouldn’t have recognized him if she hadn’t been told he was the governor.

“I want to say thanks to the people of Arizona,” he said. “It’s really been my honor to be governor these past four years. I’ve done my best and left it all out on the field to make the case to do this for the next four years.”

Ducey made a final plug for Congresswoman Martha McSally, the Republican locked in a tight battle for outgoing U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake’s seat. Ducey and McSally had appeared alongside other Republican candidates Monday evening at a rally on the courthouse steps in Prescott.

Gov. Doug Ducey heads to his polling place in Paradise Valley to drop off his ballot around 8:40 a.m., Nov. 6, 2018.(Photo: Maria Polletta/The Republic)

“I think we’ve got a great Republican slate,” the governor said. “I think if people are in doubt, they can vote straight down the ticket.”

Ducey said he planned to make three or four stops in Maricopa County throughout the day, swinging by “victory offices to rally the troops.” He hoped to spend time with his brother, dad and best friend from high school in the afternoon.

“Then, we’re going to bring all our supporters together this evening, and we’re going to watch the results at 8 and see what happens,” he said.

— Maria Polletta

8:40 a.m.: Fontes says after a few glitches, everything is up and running

Despite a few hiccups in the early morning, Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes said polling places were “up and running, as I understand it right now, across the board.”

He said the problems earlier in the day, including two polling places where poll workers were locked out and one with a major technical issue, were “exactly what we expected.”

“I do know that the vast majority of everything is working very well, but we're going to have issues throughout the day, which is just par for the course. That's just typical for an operation this size,” Fontes said.

CLOSE

Armani Davis, 27, said he had an easy experience voting at Latter-Day Saints Church in Goodyear and supported many of the Democrats on the ballot.
Victor Ren, azcentral

A Chandler polling place, Golf Academy of America in Phoenix, was foreclosed on overnight and poll workers could not access the ballots and voting equipment stored inside. Fontes said poll workers have set up a temporary polling place in the parking lot and plan to get a court order soon to allow the sheriff’s office can forcibly open the location for voting.

“There are people checking in with our SiteBook system on this beautiful Arizona day in the parking lot and they are voting,” Fontes said.

Voters have reported issues with ballot printers at the Queen Creek Library and Chandler City Hall. Fontes said he was not personally aware of issues at either site but would look into it.

“It's been one long day since the 28th of August,” Fontes said.

Meanwhile, azcentral.com has dispatched a reporter to the Deer Valley Airport precinct, where voters were reportedly being forced to cast provisional ballots because of a technical issue. Check back for updates.

— Jessica Boehm

CLOSE

Carrie Delasco, 42, ran into some confusion at Deer Valley Airport this morning. She arrived to vote at 6:30 a.m. and was told there were no ballots for precinct 447, even though it was her official polling station.
Victor Ren, azcentral

7:50 a.m.: Howard Stern discusses Arizona judge on the ballot

Call it a November surprise. On the day he stands for a retention election, Peter Swann, a judge on Arizona’s Court of Appeals, was discussed on the national Howard Stern radio show.

Swann’s name and judicial position was mentioned on Tuesday by his high-school friend, the actor Ben Stiller, who discussed the band the two were in while growing up in New York.

Before he became an Arizona appellate judge, Peter Swann was a bass guitar-playing teenager in New York who, with his friend Ben Stiller on drums, formed the rhythm section of a band called Capital Punishment, shown here with his 1977 Fender Precision Bass as seen in Phoenix on Mar., 26, 2015.(Photo: John Samora/ The Republic)

The one-and-only album from the band Capital Punishment, which both formed and broke up in 1982, was reissued this year.

On the Stern show, Stiller commented on the experimental rock the teens made. Stiller played drums. Swann played bass.

Swann joined the band after the bass player scheduled to play the session was sick and he was asked to fill in.

Stiller said the four recorded new music for the September re-release of its recording, and has apparently continued to record new music. Stiller announced an EP would be released the day after Thanksgiving.

“We played yesterday,” Stiller told Stern. “It was fun.”

The September re-release of the album, “Roadkill,” has led to stories in Rolling Stone and Newsweek.

It was the second time Stern played Capital Punishment songs on his show with Stiller as a guest. When he first did so in 2015, Stern said of Swann’s position on the bench, “Gee, I hope he’s tenured.”

Swann is not.

He stands for a retention election on Tuesday.

The Judicial Performance report on Swann gives him high marks, with all 27 members of the performance commission saying he meets judicial standards. Attorney and judges surveyed rated him highly, giving him scores in the 90s.

— Richard Ruelas

7:20 a.m.: Foreclosed Chandler precinct has reopened

Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes just tweeted that the precinct at the Golf Academy of America, 2301 N. Arizona Ave. in Chandler, has been reopened — but not before voters who had been turned away aggravated an issue at the precinct they were sent to.

About 100 voters were in line at Chandler City Hall when they were told that printer software wasn't working. The overflow from the golf center added to the frustration.

6:40 a.m.: Issues reported at Mesa, Phoenix precincts

Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes said there were two additional polling places experiencing issues at 6 a.m. when polls opened.

The San Michelle precinct in Mesa was experiencing technology issues. Voters are encouraged to go to the vote center at East Valley Institute of Technology or the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office at the Southeast Court Complex in Mesa.

Poll workers could not access St. Nikolas Serbian Church in Phoenix before 6 a.m. This is the polling place for the Desert Cove precinct. Voters are encouraged to vote at Sunnyslope Senior Center.

In addition, a voter at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center reported that voters were being asked to come back later because poll workers were unable to print ballots.

Earlier this morning, voters were being turned away from their precinct at the Golf Academy of America, 2031 N. Arizona Ave. and redirected to Chandler City Hall after the business was foreclosed upon overnight.

— Jessica Boehm and Maddie Johnson

6:15 a.m.: Chandler polling place unable to open because of foreclosure

Due to the failure to pay rent the landlord changed the locks on the door preventing access to the Gila polling place in Chandler. (Photo: Cheryl Evans/The Republic)

Election Day got off to a rocky start when voters at one Chandler precinct were turned away because their polling place had been foreclosed upon the day before.

Voters assigned to the Gila precinct — roughly bordered by Alma School, McQueen, Knox and Warner roads — were being encouraged to use the Chandler City Hall vote center until the recorder’s office is able to open or relocate the precinct.

Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes said the landlord of 2031 N. Arizona Ave, which appears to be a strip mall, locked the building overnight after poll workers had set up the polling place. There are ballots inside the building, he said.

Fontes said his staff is working with the sheriff’s office to see if they can forcibly enter the property to collect the ballots and equipment.

A reporter is headed to the scene now. Check back with azcentral.com for more updates.

— Jessica Boehm

Five things to watch for today

Arizona Republic reporter Rachel Leingang wrote about the five key things to look for in today's historic midterm election:

Will voter turnout reflect a a blue wave or a low tide?

Arizona will send a woman to the U.S. Senate, but will 2018 truly be the year of the woman?

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